First published 2011
W. G. Karunasena sits with his arrack, knowing death approaches. The retired sportswriter has one final obsession: finding Pradeep S. Mathew, the spin bowler he believes was the greatest cricketer who ever lived. But Pradeep has disappeared without a trace. As W.G. pursues his quest across Sri Lanka, he alienates his wife, neglects his son, and drinks too much. His search leads him to bizarre discoveries: a coach born with six fingers, hidden chambers beneath cricket stadiums, and connections to Tamil Tiger commanders. Each clue draws him deeper into Sri Lanka's violent recent history and the murky world of cricket politics. The hunt for one mysterious athlete becomes a journey through a country torn by civil war, where sport and politics intertwine in deadly ways. W.G. races against his failing health to solve the riddle of Pradeep's fate, but his investigation forces him to confront uncomfortable truths about his homeland, the game he loves, and his own life choices.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, mystery, 21st-century, asian-american
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: quest, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Sri Lanka
Period: 21st Century
416 pages · Kindle Edition · Vintage Digital
Content warnings: violence